The Shropshire-based Townend has decided instead to concentrate on preparing himself and his horses for next year and qualification for the London Olympics in 2012.

Townend, 27, said: "Next year is going to very important in terms of qualification for the Olympics and it is in everyone’s interests here to prepare well over the coming winter. I want to start that preparation as soon as possible."

One of Townend’s final competitions of this season will be next week at Burghley, where he will defend the title on board Carousel Quest, the grey who took him to glory 12 months ago.

It will be the only horse going to Burghley from the Townend yard.

"I was going to take Ashdale Cruise Master as well but decided against that," said Townend, whose 2009 season saw him lift the Burghley and Badminton titles.

The Yorkshireman, whose pursuit of the Rolex Grand Slam in Kentucky was ended in April by a crashing fall during the cross-country phase which left him with a cracked collarbone, chest bone and ribs, was not subsequently fit enough to defend his Badminton title.

The 26-year-old Yorkshireman, who had hoped to complete a hat-trick of titles in Lexington after victories at the Badminton and Burghley trials, missed out on a jackpot of £233,000 ($358,000) when his first horse, Ashdale Cruise Master, came to grief at a jump -  although the horse was uninjured.

To add to Townend’s woes Carousel Quest - on whom he had intended to compete at Badminton this year - also had injury problems but is now happily recovered.

Townend endured a 51-hour journey to join his two horses in Kentucky involving a chartered flight to Disneyland and a 16-hour, £1,600 ($2,461) taxi ride across the Pyrenees.

"Ashdale Cruise Master has done enough this season and it is far more important that he is rested," Townend said.

"After all, he is going to be an important horse for me in the next couple of years.

"It was a huge achievement for the whole team to win at Burghley last year and it will be great to try and do it again with Carousel Quest.

"He is a true Burghley horse, who has had a relatively quiet season and I’m sure he will rise to the occasion."

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